Welcome to my graduate portfolio! This electronic portfolio will provide an overview of my experiences pursuing a Ph.D. in Instructional Leadership with a Concentration in Instructional Technology. Within this site, you will find my philosophy of instructional technology, my reflections of the program as a whole, and an overview of coursework in both instructional technology and higher education.
Derrick Griffey is a sociology and history instructor at Gadsden State Community College in Gadsden, AL. He earned his Associate of Arts degree from Gadsden State Community College, Bachelor of Science in Education from Jacksonville State University, Master of Arts degree in Secondary Education History from The University of Alabama, and Master of Arts degree in Sociology from Middle Tennessee State University. He will complete his Ph.D. in Instructional Leadership with an emphasis in Instructional Technology in Spring/Summer of 2016 from The University of Alabama.
Derrick began his career teaching 7th grade social studies at Oxford Middle School and, after three years, he accepted a position teaching social studies at Etowah High School. In addition to serving as a classroom teacher, Mr. Griffey also served as a school technology coordinator and yearbook advisor for both Oxford Middle and Etowah High.
In his current position at Gadsden State, Derrick prepares the technology requests each year for his department. Also, he provides professional development to his colleagues on a variety of instructional technologies and incorporating more technology into their instruction.
Derrick was chosen as a 2015-2016 Faculty Fellow at Gadsden State through a competitive application process. This program was funded by an Innovative Teaching Grant from the Alabama Community College. With the funds provided by this program, Mr. Griffey and his three other fellows created Gadsden State's Faculty Development Institute. This new program is a competitive intensive year-long professional development program for instructors at Gadsden State. The mission of the program is to develop faculty through fellowship with and observation of effective teachers and innovative instructional practices.
Mr. Griffey was also chosen as one of the two Chancellor's Award winners for Academic Faculty. The Alabama Community College System Chancellor’s Awards began 26 years ago to reward and recognize those who have exemplified outstanding performance and dedicated service to their college.
In his spare time, Derrick enjoys travel, live music, and gadgetry. One of his biggest goals is to visit all 50 state capitols before his 40th birthday in the year 2020. So far, he has marked 30 off that list. Derrick is a fan of Dave Matthews Band, Third Eye Blind, and Matchbox 20. Finally, he is constantly looking to purchase and play with the latest in new technology.
Derrick began his career teaching 7th grade social studies at Oxford Middle School and, after three years, he accepted a position teaching social studies at Etowah High School. In addition to serving as a classroom teacher, Mr. Griffey also served as a school technology coordinator and yearbook advisor for both Oxford Middle and Etowah High.
In his current position at Gadsden State, Derrick prepares the technology requests each year for his department. Also, he provides professional development to his colleagues on a variety of instructional technologies and incorporating more technology into their instruction.
Derrick was chosen as a 2015-2016 Faculty Fellow at Gadsden State through a competitive application process. This program was funded by an Innovative Teaching Grant from the Alabama Community College. With the funds provided by this program, Mr. Griffey and his three other fellows created Gadsden State's Faculty Development Institute. This new program is a competitive intensive year-long professional development program for instructors at Gadsden State. The mission of the program is to develop faculty through fellowship with and observation of effective teachers and innovative instructional practices.
Mr. Griffey was also chosen as one of the two Chancellor's Award winners for Academic Faculty. The Alabama Community College System Chancellor’s Awards began 26 years ago to reward and recognize those who have exemplified outstanding performance and dedicated service to their college.
In his spare time, Derrick enjoys travel, live music, and gadgetry. One of his biggest goals is to visit all 50 state capitols before his 40th birthday in the year 2020. So far, he has marked 30 off that list. Derrick is a fan of Dave Matthews Band, Third Eye Blind, and Matchbox 20. Finally, he is constantly looking to purchase and play with the latest in new technology.
Gadsden State Community College
Gadsden State Community College is a public, open-door comprehensive community college under the control of the Alabama Community College System. On July 8, 2003, the College was created by the consolidation of Harry M. Ayers State Technical College and Gadsden State Community College. Harry M. Ayers State Technical College was created by an act of the Alabama Legislature on May 3, 1963, as Harry M. Ayers State Trade School. Later in 1973, the Alabama State Board of Education designated the institution as a technical college. Harry M. Ayers State Technical College is now identified as the Harry M. Ayers Campus of
Gadsden State Community College.
The College initially became Gadsden State Community College on February 28, 1985, when the Alabama State Board of Education merged Alabama Technical College, Gadsden State Technical Institute, and Gadsden State Junior College. Alabama Technical College was founded as the Alabama School of Trades in 1925 and was the first state operated trade school in the southern United States. In 1973, the name of the “trade school” was changed to Alabama Technical College, and it is now identified as the East Broad Street Campus of Gadsden State Community College.
Gadsden State Technical Institute, the second oldest component of Gadsden State Community College, began operations in 1960 as Gadsden Vocational Trade School, a private training facility. Two years later the State of Alabama assumed ownership of the school and in 1972 renamed it Gadsden State Technical Institute. In 1997, the U.S. Department of Education designated this institution as a “Historically Black College or University” (HBCU). It is now identified as the Valley Street Campus of Gadsden State Community College. In 1965, Gadsden State Junior College was established. The Junior College is now identified as the Wallace
Drive Campus of Gadsden State Community College. In addition to these campuses, Gadsden State Community College operates the McClellan Center in Calhoun County, Gadsden State Cherokee in Cherokee County, and an instructional site at St. Clair Correctional Facility.
The Alabama Community College System has designated as the College’s service area the following counties: Calhoun, Cherokee (all but the northern one-sixth), Cleburne, Etowah, and St. Clair (the northeastern third).
Gadsden State's Mission Statement
Gadsden State Community College serves its diverse communities by offering quality academic education, workforce
development, and adult education opportunities that are accessible and affordable and that foster lifelong learning
and global awareness.
Gadsden State Community College is a public, open-door comprehensive community college under the control of the Alabama Community College System. On July 8, 2003, the College was created by the consolidation of Harry M. Ayers State Technical College and Gadsden State Community College. Harry M. Ayers State Technical College was created by an act of the Alabama Legislature on May 3, 1963, as Harry M. Ayers State Trade School. Later in 1973, the Alabama State Board of Education designated the institution as a technical college. Harry M. Ayers State Technical College is now identified as the Harry M. Ayers Campus of
Gadsden State Community College.
The College initially became Gadsden State Community College on February 28, 1985, when the Alabama State Board of Education merged Alabama Technical College, Gadsden State Technical Institute, and Gadsden State Junior College. Alabama Technical College was founded as the Alabama School of Trades in 1925 and was the first state operated trade school in the southern United States. In 1973, the name of the “trade school” was changed to Alabama Technical College, and it is now identified as the East Broad Street Campus of Gadsden State Community College.
Gadsden State Technical Institute, the second oldest component of Gadsden State Community College, began operations in 1960 as Gadsden Vocational Trade School, a private training facility. Two years later the State of Alabama assumed ownership of the school and in 1972 renamed it Gadsden State Technical Institute. In 1997, the U.S. Department of Education designated this institution as a “Historically Black College or University” (HBCU). It is now identified as the Valley Street Campus of Gadsden State Community College. In 1965, Gadsden State Junior College was established. The Junior College is now identified as the Wallace
Drive Campus of Gadsden State Community College. In addition to these campuses, Gadsden State Community College operates the McClellan Center in Calhoun County, Gadsden State Cherokee in Cherokee County, and an instructional site at St. Clair Correctional Facility.
The Alabama Community College System has designated as the College’s service area the following counties: Calhoun, Cherokee (all but the northern one-sixth), Cleburne, Etowah, and St. Clair (the northeastern third).
Gadsden State's Mission Statement
Gadsden State Community College serves its diverse communities by offering quality academic education, workforce
development, and adult education opportunities that are accessible and affordable and that foster lifelong learning
and global awareness.
Click here to visit The University of Alabama's website
Instructional Technology at The University of Alabama
